Hall store service compant



(No-Modl.) I W. MENDENHALL.

' STORE SERVICE APPARATUS. No. 413,860;

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4 Sheets-Sheet 1.

Patented Oct. 29, 1889.

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W. MENDENHALL.

STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

- No. 413,860.; Pate-ntedOot. 29,1889;

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W. MENDENHALL. STORE SERVICE APPARATUS.

. Patented Oct; 29, 188-9.

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PETERS Phu'v'tfllmgqzher, Washington. n. c

PATENT O FICE.

:WILLIAM MENDENHAL'II; F CINCINNATI, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO THE MENDEN- I L- STORE sER-v oE COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

iSTORE-SERVICE APPARATUS.

I SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters-Patent No. 413,860, dated October 29, 1889.

1 Application filed October 19,1888.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that L'WILLIAM MENDENHALL, a citizen of the United States, residing at. Cincinnati, in the coun'ty of Hamilton and State I 5 of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Store-Service Apparatus, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, forming part of this specification. p I

My invent-ion relates to that class of storeservice apparatus in which a carrier is propelled upon a way or wireand carries beneath I it a detachable receptaclefor the articles to j, I 5 be transported; and it has forits object'the improvement in the construction and mode of operation of the apparatus.

. I The novelty of my invention will be here-' I with set forth and specifically pointed out in the claims. j j I Inthe accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation, partlyin section, of a store- A service apparatus embodying my invention.

Fig. 2is a detail showing the reverse of the propelling-wheel of: Fig; 1. :Fig. 3 is a plan A view of the propellingwheel of Fig. 1. Fig. at is' an enlarged sectional elevation of the air-cushion. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail plan view of the'latch and connected parts. Fig. 6. is an elevationof the same. Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the apparatus at the receiving or cashiers end of the lines. Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional, detail to be referred to hereinafter. Fig. 9 is-a front elevation of Fig. 7.

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the apparatus,

representing a modification in the construction. Fig. 11 is a detailend elevation of the elevator. Fig. 12 is a corresponding view to Fig.1 representing an equivalent construction for thewheel. Fig. 13 is a corresponding view to'Fig. 2, representing the constructionofFig. 12. j. I

,. r Thesame letters areused to indicate iden- Befen'ingto Figs- 1, 2, and 3, A is the usual upright or post, to which the way or wire Bis securedin the usualor any suitable manner.

.i j :C is thecarrier, of the usual or anysuitable constrnctiomsupported fupon the wire its 5c rollers 01,, and to whichis removably attached the receptacle Din this instance a basket.

Extending from the post A above the wayis Serial No. 288,577. (No model.)

a horizontal spindle 1), upon which is journaled so as to turn freely a grooved wheel E,

held in place in this instance by a washer c, fitted upon the squared endof the spindle,

so as not to turn thereon. Likewise loosely hung upon the spindle b is an arm F, to the lower end of which is pivoted a second arm 1 G, the two arms F G constituting a jointed 6o propelling-arm or pusher. The forward end of the arm G is carried upon the wire B by means of a grooved roller d, pivoted in a slot in the'arnr G, and having a .stirrup e extending under the wire to prevent the disengagement of the roller d therefrom and to communicate the blow of an incoming carrier to an air-cushion.

- Secured to the post A, just under the wire B,- is a forked bracket H, (see Figs. 5 and 6,) 7o

between the rear slotted arm f of which is pivoted the latch-bar Lwhich extends forward between the forward slotted arm g. The pivot for the bar Iextends" through a slot '5 in the latter, and a coiled spring j surrounds the bar I between a nut or projection k on its rear end'and the arm f. Each end of the carrier has a lateral projection or pin Z, which, as the carrier is driven in toward the post A, is

caught and engaged by the forward hooked 8o ehd m of the latch-bar. As the carrier comes in with considerable force, the arms G F are driven back to the position shown by the solid lines, Fig. 1, and to receive and lessen the blow of the carrier I have provided an aircushion (see Fig. 8) composed of a cylinder J, secured to the bracket H, and having fitted therein a piston 'n, witha hollow rod '0 extending throughits head and the post A, and having at its forward end a vertical extension 19, whose end is slotted and loosely embraces the wire B in the rear of the stirrup e. A coiled spring q is placed in the cylinder J, and is supported by a rod ,whose forward end passes 7 through the piston n into the hollow rod 0, as shown. The only purpose of the spring q is to throw out or reset the rod 0 and piston 12. after the carrier has been propelled, aspresently explained. When the carrier is driven in toward the post, the arm G is first struck I00 and drivenback, as before explained, until I thestirrupe strikes the projection 19, where- I upon the force of the blow is communicated to the piston 'n and drives it back, thereby this way the carrier is arrested gradually and without shock or rebounding force, and is caught and held by the latch I, as will be readily understood. The carrier is now in posi tion to be propelled, and the means for propelling it (shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3) may be thus described.

K is a weight-box, suitably located on the shelving or elsewhere in rear or to one side of the post A, and containing a weight L, having a rope or cable M extending from its upper side over a pulleyt and forward to the wheel E, along Whose groove it extends and is secured, as at it. To receive and lessen the jar of the falling weight, I preferably secure in the bottom of the box K an air-cushion N, constructed in all respects like the air-cushion for the carrier, and which is shown in section in Fig. 4.

Extending from the wheel E is an arm '0, to which is pivoted a grooved pulley w, around which acord or rope 0 extends, with one end attached, as at or, to a bracket P upon the post A, and with the other end extending down over a guide-pulley y, pivoted in the bracket P, and having at its bottom a grasp ing-handle a. Secured in a guide-housing b upon one of the spokes of the wheel E is a spring latch-bolt 0, whose upper end is connected bya coiled spring (1 to a lug upon the washer c. Projecting from the arm F, just below the periphery of the wheel E, is a recessed lug e, into the recess of which the bolt 0' is caught when the wheel is turned by pulling upon the cord 0, thereby locking the wheel E to the arm F and raising the weight L. Upon releasing the cord 0 the weight in descending turns the wheel E and throws forward the arms F and G, and consequently the carrier, which, being locked to the latch I, draws the latter forward until an inclined lugf, Figs. 1 and 6, upon the lower side 'of the bar I, between the arms f g, strikes the inclinedbottom wall of the slot in the arm 9 and lifts the latch, which thus becomes disengaged from the carrier. The arms F G then continue forward with the gradually-increased velocity imparted by the falling weight until, the frictional contact between the bolt and its recess being broken by the arresting of the weight, the spring (1' comes into action and retracts the bolt 0, whereupon they continue forward and assume the position shown by the dotted lines, Fig. 1, and propel the carrier with sufficient force across the wire B, as will be readily understood. They then fall back by the gravity of the arm Funtil the latter assumes a vertical position. The moment the latch I is released it is drawn back and reset by its springj, and the piston n, with its rod 0, is projected forward by the spring q, as will be readily understood. Any suitable stop-such as the button 9 upon the rope O-prevents the wheel E from being carried by its momentum further than desired.

It is ofcourse obvious that the Wheel E, as a wheel, may be dispensed with and its equivalent be found in a pivoted bell-crank lever with two or more arms, to the upper arm of which the weight-cord and cord 0 would be secured, and to the other of which the locking-bolt 0' would be secured. For instance, in Figs. 12 and 13 I have shown such a construction, where the weight-cord M passes over a grooved pulley 1, journaled on a stud projecting from the post A, and is secured to an arm 2 of a bell-crank, pivoted similarly to the wheel E, and whose other arm 3 is provided with the spring-latch c, for engaging the propelling-arm F. The other parts and mode of operation of the device are identical with those of Figs. 1, .2, and

To dispense with the wheel E and propelling-arms F G, and yet obtain the advan tages of the wheels as a means for propelling the carrier and its receptacle, I employ the modification represented in Fig. 10, where the weight is contained under the counter Q, and its rope passes up, preferably, through a hollow post R upon the forward edge of the counter and over a grooved pulley h, pivoted upon the top of the post, and thence back under the basket D, over a second pulley't" upon-the lower end of the post A, and down, as shown. A button j, preferably frustoconoidal in shape, constituting the pusher, is secured upon the rope O, and when the weight is down occupies a position close to the pulley h. The latch I and its attachments and the air-cushion are the same as before described, and at each end of the basket D, at its lower edge,I secure a plate hinged so' as to open outwardly only, and preferably with a notch in its lower edge. (See Fig. 9.) The rope between the pulleys h i is substantially horizontal, though the weight of the button j causes it to sag sufficiently to be out of the way of the incoming basket. Now, upon pulling down the rope O and lifting the weight L, the button j is drawn back and tilts the rear plate 70', which, when the button has passed back of it, drops down in front of the same, so that upon releasing the rope the weight in falling draws the button into engagement with the rear plate 70' and causes the basket and carrier to be propelled forward across the wire B, as will be readily understood.

S is the usual or any suitable frame for th basket-elevatorT, which is drawn up and lowered by the cord U, to attach and release the basket from the carrier, as described in my prior application filed July 13, 1888, Serial No. 27 9,811, or in any other suitable manner.

Having thus fully described nyinvention, I claim- 1. In store-service apparatus, the combination, with a way and a carrier and receptacle adapted to move on said way, of a propelling-weight and a pusher arranged parallel toisaid way "and connected to said weight, whereby] upon, lifting J and releasing said weight the carrier andreceptacle are given a gradually-increasing initial impetus for the purpose of propelling themi'on said way, substantially asdescribed. v ,2. lnstor'e-service apparatus, the -conibi= carrier and receptacle id way,'and ar catch for i p ope g-we h rallel to said way and hereby upon lifting, and M p ight the catcli'is' thereby disengaged land the"carrier and re ceptacle are given a gradually-increasing initial impetus, for the purpose of propelling them 1 upon, said. way, {substantially as de scribed.

e-apparatus, the combia carrier and receptacle- "S d ite p p l g: wheel or it equivalent, and a-p'ropelling-arm connectej to, said? wheelganjd carried onsaid' way, of a weight united bya rope to said wheel, wlierebyaupon turning said wheel and lifting i ht andfthenf releasing the same the nd rece ta'cle aregivena graduallynginitia npe'tus for propelling them aid way, substantially as described.

apparatus, the fcombicarrier and receptacle. 7 said way,za propellingarm "connected to, said nfS a/l d way, a latch forweight united by a rope up'o'n turning said it and-then releas- I 4 In storeeservice said carrier," an I a Said 1 wheel, "whereby L lifting tlie Wei -1ng th carrier andrece taclefare given a gradually-- increasingini impetus for propelling them upon said Iway, substantially as described. 1" 5.:111 store-service apparatus, the combination of alwayyacarrier and receptacle wheel-or itsequivaleht provided with an aui tomatic spring locking and releasing bolt,

nation of a way, a carrier and receptacle me the; latch is d sengaged, and the j adapted 'toimove 'on: said way, a propelling;

, Vapropellingi-arm hung -.looselyby the side'of v for rotating said wheel inone direction to cause itsengagement with'said arm andthen inthe opposite direction to propel the car-- rier and receptacle along't-he" way and to eflect" the disengagement of the wheel and arm, substantially as described. p I 6; In store-service apparatus, the combiadapted to move on said way, a propelling- Twheel providedwith an automatic spring locking and releasing bolt, a propelling-arm hung loosely by the side .of said wheel and resting on said way, a weight secured by a rop'eto said wheel, and a cord for rotating said wheel in one direction to first cause its engagement'with said arm and to 'lift the. v weight, whereby upon releasing said eordthe weightrotates said wheel in the oppositedirectio niand propels the carrier and receptacle along said way and causes the disengagement of the wheel and scribed. in V 7.. In store-service apparatus, the combination of a way, a carrier and receptacle,

arm, substantially as'deadapted totravel on said way, and means for propelling the same, of the forked bracket H, with slot-ted arms f g, andvthe latch 1, provided with the hook m, releasing-lugf,slot z,

and resetting-spring j, substantially in the manner and for the purpose specified.

8. ,A store-service apparatus comprisingthe weight L, air-cushionN, rope M, grooved wheel E, the j ointedarms G F, the lug e, secured tothe arm F, the spring-bolt 0' upon the wheel-- E,.washerrc, spring 01, and lifting-cord O, at-

tached to the wheel E, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

9. Asliding' pivoted spring-retracted latchpiece having an inclined lug, in combination with abearing for said latch-piece, whereby the drawing forward of said latch-piece causes it to betilted to effect its disengagement, substantially as described.

a Wh/LMENDENHALL. a witnessesz i- G. MQPEOK,

said wheel, resting on said way,

and a cord CHARLES BILLON, 

